Travel to Tangalle

one of the best areas for pure beach relaxation

The town of Tangalle is located on the southern coast of Sri Lanka.

Set around a broad bay, whose anchorage is protected from the ocean swell by a substantial fringing reef, Tangalle has long been valued as a port.

Although the Portuguese were probably the first Europeans to occupy the area, it was the Dutch who built the old fort at the end of the peninsula and several other important buildings which remain in evidence today.

These days Tangalle remains an important mooring place for local fishing boats and the lovely beaches on either side are home to a range of different accommodation options.

The main points of interest in the area are the Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara (Mulkirigala Rock Temple), the Parewella ‘natural swimming pool’, the Kalametiya Bird Sanctuary and the Turtle Watch Rekawa project.

There are also PADI dive schools in Tangalle, offering diving and snorkelling trips on the nearby reefs.

The best time of year to visit the Tangalle area is generally considered to be during the Jan-Mar southwest dry season and, to a lesser extent, the Jun-Aug northeast dry season.

Temperatures are more or less constant year round, with daytime temperatures around 28C/82F, whilst the nighttime low temperatures up at a potentially uncomfortable 24C/75F.

The main issue is rainfall, which is highest Sep-Nov and has another smaller peak Apr-May. These periods are therefore usually best avoided, although the rain is sporadic and there are plenty of sunny spells in between.

The best time for diving in this southwest area is also Jan-Mar, when conditions are more likely to be calm and visibility good.

Getting there

The Tangalle area is usually reached by road. For our guests, this means combining it with various other locations on the island in a private guided overland safari, travelling in the company of an expert driver-guide. Popular connections include …

Colombo : 2-3 hours
Nuwara Eliya : 3-4 hours
Yala : 2-3 hours

The Tangalle area also has a train service, connecting from Colombo to the nearby Matara Station. If you specifically want to include a rail journey in your trip, then it should be possible for you to take the train, whilst your driver-guide drives on to meet you at the far end.

Where to stay

Accommodation in the Tangalle area falls into three main categories …

The first option is to stay at one of the authentic smaller properties, which mostly lie in the intimate coves to the west of the town.

The second option is to stay at one of the large beach resorts, of which this particular area has an unusually good selection, including probably the best on the island (Amanwella) and the main golfing resort (Shangri-La Hambantota).

a good base for diving during the Jan-Mar dry season